Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THRICE WEDDED. | 93 cheeks, as the memory of his blighted hopes rushed over him. It was some minutes before he could proceed, and there was utter silence in the room. Finally he raised his head; a stern, hard look had taken the place of the softened expression, and he continued: ‘We were standing before a window that looked out on the western sky; the sun was just setting, and its yellow — rays streamed in a golden glory all around my love, making her look like some bright-robed divinity. When I had finished telling her my hopes and plans, her lips moved as if she was about to speak, and I bent my ear to catch the blessed words. She raised her eyes, and I could have sworn that the love-light was in their bright depths; but— the sound of a horse's footsteps outside drew them from me - to rest on the handsome face and figure of Robert Ellerton as he rode by on horseback. “He saw us, bowed gracefully, and waved one daintily gloved hand to her. — ‘The look of love fled from my darling’s eves, as his form passed from sight, and with an absent-minded air she said she was afraid she did not love me well enough to be my wife—that she could not give me as much in return as I ~ could wish. “T protested that if she would only be mine, I would never complain of a lack of affection. Shereplied that she would think of my offer for a day or two before she gave me her answer. I gazed at her for a moment in astonishment—l was so sure she loved me! I could hardly believe it was the same Jessie whom I had always worshiped—her manner was so changed. ‘‘Half-mad with jealousy, and the fear that I might lose her after all, I seized her in my arms and kissed her passion- ately. She gently released herself, and I went away—and— I never spoke tu her again ! ‘‘A few days after, she sent me a note, telling me she could not be my wife—that she did not love me well enough, and ane would not wrong me by giving me her hand without her heart. “Oh! I saw it all! I saw itall! Another had usurped my place! Ralph, listen to me ?” The agitated old man leaped forward, while he whispered, hoarsely : : “In three months ‘from that time she married that villain, EComicboo (G(0) <s)